THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 35 - FIRES

GABRIEL

-Sorry, but the shorter way is taking that street.

    -I know, but there was an accident and the roads are currently obstructed.

    -I understand. What happened?

    -A fire… Today was full of fires. We had two fires in the forest and one in the city. It was a busy day for the firefighters and the hospital. There have been multiple people with severe burns.

“That was all the noise that we heard when you talked with our sister.” “People being rushed into the hospital?” “Yes!” Zeus was proud that he figured it out by himself. Although it was kind of obvious. Just as the driver said the streets were full of cars. We decided to leave the taxi and walk home. I took clothes of my own and then went to find David. Daniel was helping him, cleaning the wound. It was indeed not bleeding anymore, but it was still open and it looked awful.

    -David came with me, we are going with Maria.

    -Didn’t you hear? The hospital is full of people.

    -I know Daniel, but I called Maria. She will make time to check David’s wound.

    -Okay, let me dress up properly.

    -No, you are staying here. I will take him.

He looked at David. I knew he was worried, but he needs to respect boundaries.

    -I’m going to be fine Dan.

    -I’m taking a shower.

With those words, Daniel entered the bathroom.

    -Let's go, David.

He followed me. As we were approaching the hospital I decided to call Maria.

    -Hi?

    -Maria, we are about to arrive…

    -How is the wound?

    -It looks okay, it’s not bleeding anymore but…

    -Scratch it.

    -What?

    -It’s not normal for a wound that is fresh to not be bleeding, just scratch it a bit. So it’s bleeding. You will say it was a motorcycle accident okay?

    -Okay.

I looked at David… I was nervous.

    -What happened?

    -Nothing, it's just that… Maria told me it’s not normal for wounds that big and fresh to not be bleeding so…

    -So it must be bleeding?

    -Yes… We are saying that it’s going to be a motorcycle accident.

-Okay I get it!

Dave walked to the sidewalk then he started running and then he threw himself into the street, his clothes got ripped and dirty. Then he scratched his wound and a lot of blood started flowing, he also scratched his arm and a leg… He was now bleeding from his arm, leg, and face.

    -What are you doing?

    -Making the accident more realistic?

    -It didn’t need to be that realistic, just a tiny amount of blood would have been fine.

    -Okay, I will keep it light next time.

    -Now let’s go… Maria really needs to see you now.

We entered the hospital and it was crazy. Doctors were running all over the place, the scent of blood and burnt skin was so strong. I looked at David and he was covering his nose. “Let’s find our sister and leave this place… it stinks.” We were searching and then we saw her… she was covered in blood?

    -Are you alright?

I grabbed her arm and lift her a bit. I wasn’t sure how I got so close to her, but I was worried. Then I felt someone pushing me and felt my sister being pulled away from me. I was about to collapse. When I felt Maria’s hand on my shoulder.

    -I’m okay, he is my brother.

She was talking to a guy… the guy that tried to pull her away from me.

    -Are you sure? I can call security?

    -I’m fine. Go and check on the patients, I’m just going to suture… David what the hell you are bleeding a lot!

Maria let go of me and pushed the doctor a bit. She ran and started looking at David. Then she glared at me.

    -It wasn’t me! He did that to himself…

    -You hit the kid?

    -NO! He is our little brother, they called me and told me he had a motorcycle accident… But I wasn’t expecting this much blood.

    -Well go big or go home… right?

David’s answer wasn’t making Maria happy.

    -Come with me, I need to disinfect and clean your wounds.

Maria grabbed him and started pulling him away. I was about to follow them when I felt the guy’s sight.

    -Do you have a problem?

    -I’m not sure you are her brother… but I really don’t care. If you hurt her…

“That’s it!” I walked near him without breaking eye contact.

    -Don’t you dare to speak to me like that. Maria is so important to me you stand no chance. So I will say this to you just one time. Stay away from my sister… 

    -Or else.

    -You don’t want to know that part.

I walked away. I followed Maria’s scent and found her pressing something on David’s face.

    -Stop moving!

    -It hurts!

    -Just bear with it a bit!

Then I saw Davi’s eyes looking at me.

    -Alpha save me!

Something clicked inside me.

    -Maria.

    -Okay Dave, I will try to be more gentle, but please stop moving… How did this happen?

    -Motorcycle accident…

    -No I mean for real.

    -Well I scratched the wound and I also scratched my leg and arm... I ripped the clothes when I threw myself into the road and that's how I also ended up with dirty clothes.

David had a huge smile, he was proud of him… Maria smiled at me.

    -Gabe, how did David get injured?

I looked around and saw people walking by.

    -Don’t worry they are all hurried with the previous accident… So what happened and why didn’t you answer your phone? I was worried.

    -Well it’s kind of complicated to explain, we…

    -Maria, Doctor Taylor is calling for you…

    -On my way…

    -That hurts!

    -I’m almost done, David… Gabe I hope that by the time I am home the situation isn’t complicated anymore and you explain it to me.

    -Yes…

    -And keep your phone with you.

As she said that she stood up and almost left running.

    -Come on David… Let’s go home.

    -Yes this place smells awful.

We started walking away from there, just when we were about to leave I saw Crystal?

    -Crystal is that you?

    -Gabriel?

As she saw me she ran and started looking at me.

    -Are you alright?

    -Yes are you...?

The scent of blood was strong. I checked her and she had blood on her shirt and some bandages on.

    -What happened to you?

    -The place went… It was just…

Tears started to appear from her eyes.

    -It’s okay, don’t cry…

I felt David walking closer to me.

    -Gabriel your brother he is hurt!

She stopped cried and looked horrified.

    -Yes, but he is fine now, don’t worry, he will look like that just for a couple of days and he will be perfectly fine.

    -You shouldn’t take fire wounds as…

    -No this wasn’t a fire wound… I fell from my motorcycle… Can’t you see the dirt and rips on my clothes?

    -David stop!

Crystal looked confused… and relieved?

    -So you weren't trapped in the fire?

    -No, we were not…

    -You got trapped in the fire?

    -Crystal Evans?

A nurse started walking towards us.

    -Yes that's me.

    -Please follow me.

Crystal let go of my arm and walked towards the nurse.

    -Let’s leave this place, please.

I saw  David covering his nose.

    -Let's get going.

We started walking out of the hospital.

    -Can we walk back?

    -Why?

    -I just want to stretch my legs a bit. 

    -Okay.

    -Are you going to work today?

    -Apparently, my boss is here, so I think the place is closed for today.

    -You saw your boss here?

    -Yes, she asked about you…

    -What? That woman was your boss?

    -Yes…

    -Man you are lucky, our boss is a fat guy that has an acne problem and he always smells like grease, not pizza but grease.

We saw Lucas helping some people while they left the hospital.

    -Dave! Are you alright? What happened?

    -Nothing happened okay? We are fine… Nothing that a human can understand.